DES MOINES, Iowa — If any doubt remained, John Kasich is reaching out only to New Hampshire voters – and that nearly put him in a different debate than the other six Republican presidential candidates on the stage Thursday night.

At the start of the Fox News debate, which came four days before Iowans kick off presidential voting, nearly every candidate argued he could win over anti-establishment Republicans that have propelled frontrunners Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

Not Kasich. When he was asked why he rejected the "establishment" label, he called himself a "reformer." But then he talked of winning over a different group of people: Democrats.

“We cannot fix things in this country … unless we lead as conservatives, but we also invite people in from the other party," Kasich said of his possible leadership as president. "That’s been my message in New Hampshire.”

Note he didn't focus on Iowa.

Instead, he said he'd won seven of eight New Hampshire newspaper endorsements.

Meanwhile, Trump, the national frontrunner, boycotted the Fox News debate, holding his own event he said raised money for veterans' organizations. His absence theoretically meant more talking time for each of the seven participants. But Cruz and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida split most of Trump's share, speaking for around 13 minutes each. Kasich finished in the middle of the pack, with just under nine minutes, according to figures tracked by National Public Radio.

Another relatively quiet debate performance isn’t likely to hurt Kasich in the state that most matters to his 2016 hopes. After all, Kasich hasn’t advanced in New Hampshire because of his debate performances. He has gained momentum there almost despite them. And he committed no major errors Thursday.

Trump's absence dominated only the opening moments of the debate, as candidates tried out soundbites criticizing the frontrunner's absence. After that, candidates spent the evening grappling over whose record leaned furthest to the right, as they sought to woo the traditionally more conservative Iowa caucus voters.

NEWSLETTERS

Get the News Alerts newsletter delivered to your inbox

We're sorry, but something went wrong

Be the first to be informed of important news as it happens in Greater Cincinnati.

Kasich is seeking to stay toward the middle and to stay positive, perhaps even winning over some New Hampshire voters who traditionally vote Democratic. So he didn't jump into the fray.

And because the other candidates are focused on Iowa, where he's not a threat, he didn't receive any attacks. Those will likely come Feb. 6, when the Republicans debate again before the New Hampshire primary.

Early in the debate, Kasich tried to jump in twice to address a foreign policy topic, likely by touting his service on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. First, he was cut off by a commercial break. Later, he was cut off by moderator Megyn Kelly.

"There was a question about foreign policy, by the way, and experience. And I – I thought, if I didn't jump in, I might not be able to tell everybody this. I think they'd want to hear it,” Kasich said. "Look, I served on –"

Not right now, Kelly said.

“OK. I’ll always listen to you, Megyn,” Kasich said. He stayed cheery, compared with a couple of dour outings he had in the fall.

“You’re a good man, Governor Kasich,” Kelly said.

Later in the debate, Kasich got an opportunity to tout his experience handling crisis when he fielded a question about the lead crisis in Flint, Michigan. He mentioned the 2014 drinking-water crisis in Toledo and the 2012 Chardon school shooting.

But he failed to mention the lead problem that hit the Northeast Ohio village of Sebring this week. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, part of Kasich's administration, knew about lead levels last year and ordered the town to tell its residents, but failed to act when the town did not comply, the Columbus Dispatch reported Thursday.

Kasich was at his strongest when he received a question about using his faith to justify the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare.

“When I study Scripture, I know that people who live in the shadows need to have a chance,” including paying for treatment for people with mental illnesses and drug addictions, Kasich said. Fighting drug addiction is a top issue in New Hampshire, and the topic has been one of Kasich’s priorities as governor.

“The conservative message is economic growth, and along with economic growth goes opportunity for everybody in America," Kasich said. "Everybody ought to have a chance to be able to rise to their God-given purpose.”